CHIBA, Japan, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) has
no plans to acquire Electronic Arts ERTS.O, a Microsoft
executive said, shooting down unsubstantiated talk of a potential
bid that triggered a spike in the video game publisher's shares.

"We have no plans to acquire EA," Phil Spencer, corporate
vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, told Reuters in an
interview on Thursday. "They remain a very important partner to
us. No acquisitions."

Spencer declined to comment on whether it had held talks with
Electronics Arts on such a move.

Shares of Electronics Arts jumped more than 8 percent on
Wednesday on unsubstantiated talk that Microsoft may want to buy
the video game publisher. [ID:nN23408110]

Last year, Electronic Arts, the publisher of popular titles
like "Madden" football, unsuccessfully pursued a buyout of rival
video game company Take Two Interactive Software (TTWO.O).
The Redwood City, California-based company, which has a market
value of $6.5 billion, is frequently named by traders as a target
for Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Time Warner Inc (TWX.N).
(Reporting by Colin Parrott and Nathan Layne)